LAURENTIAN SHIELD
TRIDENT ELF DISARMAMENT ACTION:
On April 22, 1997, Earth Day, Donna and
Tom Howard-Hastings used handsaws to cut down three poles supporting the ELF
transmitter for the Trident submarine in northern Wisconsin. After the poles
were cut they were decorated with photos of children and posted with documents
about international law and treaties outlawing nuclear weapons. They also placed
stakes to mark tree seedlings under the transmission lines that they say are
“doomed to the cutting bar.” They cut a section of one of the downed poles,
carrying it to the nearby transmitter site where they turned themselves in to
security personnel. They were then taken into custody by county sheriffs. An ABC
TV news affiliate, along with reporters from two public radio stations were on
hand to observe what happened. They were charged with sabotage and property
destruction.
During
their three-day jury trial in Ashland County District Court, they were allowed
to present several expert witnesses, including retired Navy Captain Bush, Bob
Aldridge and International law expert, Francis Boyle. They were acquitted of the
sabotage charge, which carried ten years and
$10,000 fine, but they were convicted of destruction of property. At
their sentencing on December 3, they stated to the judge that the court had no
jurisdiction over them, seeing that a jury had determined that their action was
reasonable and that they did not damage the national defense. They also made a
passionate appeal to the judge to heed International laws and the World Court
decision to outlaw nuclear weapons. Donna was sentenced to 114 days she had
already served, with a three-year period of probation and restitution. Tom was
sentenced to 1 year in prison, with credit for time served and three years of
intensive probation, including electronic home monitoring, and restitution.